the main axis of a plant, which bears the leaves, axillary buds, and flowers and contains a hollow cylinder of vascular tissue

any similar subsidiary structure in such plants that bears a flower, fruit, or leaf

a corresponding structure in algae and fungi

any long slender part, such as the hollow part of a tobacco pipe that lies between the bit and the bowl, or the support between the base and the bowl of a wineglass, goblet, etc

a banana stalk with several bunches attached

the main line of descent or branch of a family

a round pin in some locks on which a socket in the end of a key fits and about which it rotates

any projecting feature of a component: a shank or cylindrical pin or rod, such as the pin that carries the winding knob on a watch

the form of a word that remains after removal of all inflectional affixes; the root of a word, esp as occurring together with a thematic element

the main, usually vertical, stroke of a letter or of a musical note such as a minim

the tubular glass section projecting from the base of a light bulb or electronic valve, on which the filament or electrodes are mounted

to be derived; originate

to make headway against (a tide, wind, etc)

to remove or disengage the stem or stems from

to supply (something) with a stem or stems

to restrain or stop (the flow of something) by or as if by damming up

to pack tightly or stop up

to manoeuvre (a ski or skis), as in performing a stem

a technique in which the heel of one ski or both skis is forced outwards from the direction of movement in order to slow down or turn